Stitching and seam guide for sewing machines



D. Y. KIRBY 3,401,658

STITCHING AND SEAM GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Sept. 17, 1968 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1966 INVENTOR. Domihy Y. Kirky ATTORNEYSpt. 17, 1968 D. Y. KIRBY 3,401,658

STITCHING AND SEAM GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.19, 1966 INVENTOR.

BY Dororhg Y. Kwbg a I wwf ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1968 D. Y. KIRBY 3,

STITCHING AND SEAM GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1966 3Sheets-Sheet Z5.

INVENTOR.

BY Dorofi y Y. Kirby Kim/71K 7fn/ m ATTORNEYS United States Patent()3,401,658 STITCHING AND SEAM GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Dorothy Y. Kirby,Rte. 2, Box 97, Clermont, Fla. 32711 Filed Aug. 19, 1966, Ser. No.573,652 4 Claims. (Cl. 112-153) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stitchingand seam guide for sewing machines made from a fiat metal plateapproximately inch thick with edges formed to guide material being sewedin a direction to form an even seam. One relatively long straight edgeguides material when sewing a straight seam; a rel-atively shortstraight edge joining the relatively long straight edge guides materialwhen sewing a narrow seam. Near one end of the guide, at one side, is aconvexly curved edge for guiding material when sewing a curved seam. Onthe side of the plate opposite the convexly curved edge is a relativelyshort straight edge and a concavely curved edge joins the last mentionedstraight edge at a sharp angle to the first mentioned relatively longstraight edge to provide a point for guiding material when sewing a seamwith sharp angles or when sewing seams of varying directions.

This invention relates to a seam or stitching guide as an attachment fora sewing machine and has for an object to provide a unitary guide whichshall be adapted for various stitching operations in the fabrication ofa garment.

Particular objects of my invention are to provide a line of stitching ina garment an even distance from the cut edge of a seam; a line oftop-stitching an even distance from a finished edge of a garment; also aline of topstitching an even distance from the main line of stitching ofa welt seam, or zipper.

Briefly, my improved seam and stitching guide comprises a unitary orintegral fi-at plate, having a relatively long straight edge on onepart, a convexly curved edge on another part, a relatively shortstraight edge which can be used in front of or near the toe of thepresser foot of a machine for use in top-stitching a narrow edge such asthe edge of a belt or the finished edge of a collar or front of ablouse. It also includes a pointed portion for use in top-stitching aneven distance from the finished edge of scallops. The advantage of theflat guide is that it can be used under the fabric as a guide to in surea straight stitching when top-stitching a welt seam or top-stitching azipper to the fabric. The seam or stitching guide is secured to the bedplate of the machine by means of a set-screw and can be turned tovarious positions to present selected edges of the guide opposite themachine needle. Being flat and reverisible it may be readily positionedfor the intended use.

These and other features of my invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application in which- FIG.1 is a plan view of the guide;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the guide;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the guide mounted on the bed plate of themachine in position for stitching a straight seam;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the guide mounted on the bed plate ofthe machine in position to guide the fabric in stitching an insidecurved seam or top-stitching the finished edge of an inside curve;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the guide mounted in position fortop-stitching along a narrow edge of a belt or other part of a garment;

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FIG. 6 is -a plan View showing the guide mounted in position, and themethod of utilizing it, in stitching a welt seam;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the guide mounted in position fortop-stitching around scallops in a garment; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the guide mounted in position on asewing machine but with no material or fabric being shown.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention myimproved stitching guide comprises a unitary, integral fiat plate havinga relatively long straight edge 10, which can be employed, ashereinafter described, for stitching the straight seam of a garment. Atthe opposite end of the guide from the straight edge 10 is a convexlycurved edge 11 for guiding fabric when stitching inside curved seams asfound around the neck and armholes of a garment. At edge 12 I provide arelatively short straight edge on the guide which is used in front ofthe short toe of the presser foot as in guiding the fabric whentop-stitching a very narrow edge, and when stitching along edges of abelt or along the outside edge of a collar or front of a blouse. At 13 Iprovide a pointed portion which is employed when top-stitching aroundthe finished scalloped edges of a garment. A straight edge 15 along theedge of the plate opposite the convex edge 11 extends in a directionnormal to the long straight edge 10 and is somewhat shorter than saidlong edge. Extending between the straight edge 15 and the pointedportion 13 in a concavely curved edge 17. The edges 15 and 17 furtherassist in sewing seams having sharp turns and of varying lengths anddirections. The guide is secured to the bed plate of a sewing machine bymeans of a set-screw 14 which passes through an elongated slot 16 andinto a hole provided in the bed plate of the sewing machine, all sewingmachines with which I am familiar are provided with such holes forsecuring attachments to the machine. My improved guide being formed froma fiat plate, it may be used under the fabric as well as at the edge ofthe fabric.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings 1 show my improved stitching guide mountedat a position wherein the straight, or relatively long, straight edge 10is opposite the needle 21 and is parallel to the presser foot 18. Thefabric, indicated at 19, is fed through the machine with the outer edgebearing against the relatively long straight edge 10 of the guide. Itwill be understood that the guide may be set toward or away from theneedle 21 as indicated by the arrows to determine the desired width ofthe seam. In feeding the fabric through the machine, while stitching anyof the seams or edges shown in the drawings, the sewer holds her fingeron the fabric in front of the guide to be sure that the edge of thefabric bears against the edge of the guide.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the seam or stitching guide mounted in positionwith the curved edge 11 opposite the presser foot 18 and the needle 21of the machine, and the sewer guides the material with the outer edgebearing against the edge 11 of the seam guide. In this way, aneven-width curved seam is stitched.

In FIGURE 5 of the drawing 1 show my improved seam guide placed, asindicated, at a position wherein the relatively short straight edge 12is in front of the short toe of the presser foot so it can be used as aguide in top-stitching a very narrow edge as with a belt, in dicated at23.

In FIGURE 6 of the drawing I show my improved seam guide in position fortop-stitching a welt seam. As is well understood, in sewing a welt seam,two pieces of fabric are joined together in a main seam, indicated at24, with the edges turned under as indicated at 26. The edges 26 arethen stitched to the outside of the fabric as indicated at 27. Infeeding the material through the machine, the finger of the sewer,indicated at 28, feeds the material with the edge of the folded-overfabric seam 24 hearing against straight edge 10 of the guide. In thisway I provide means for top-stitching a straight, even, welt seam On agarment.

In FIGURE 7 I show my improved stitching guide mounted in position fortop-stitching around the scalloped edges 29 of a garment or piece offabric. In this position, the pointed portion 13 of the guide is turnedopposite the needle 21 and is secured in position. The finished scallopsof the fabric .29 are fed around this pointed portion so as to providean even stitching. The pointed portion of the guide enables the sewer toturn the fabric around the point.

In FIGURE 8 of the drawing I show a portion of a machine 31 with thepresser foot 18 and with feed mechanism indicated at 32, and the needle21. My improved guide is shown mounted on the bed plate 33 of themachine by means of the set screw 14. The particular form of the presserfoot and feed mechanism fonn no part of my present invention and areshown for purposes of illustration only. Various other forms known tothose skilled in the art may be employed.

While my improved seam and stitching guide may vary somewhat inthickness, it should be of a thickness such that the fabric beingstitched will not jump or slide over the top of the guide and in whichthe edge of the guide may be readily felt by the finger of the sewerthrough the fabric being stitched. At the same time, it should not be sothick as to constitute a drag on the fabric. In actual practice I havefound that a thickness of approximately & of an inch is satisfactory.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedseam or stitching guide which is simple of construction and which may beeasily mounted on a sewing machine and set to the proper positions foreven stitching of seams and for top-stitching the various finished edgesof a garment.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodimentsthereof except as defined in the appended claims.

4 What I claim is: 1. A seam guide for sewing machines comprising (a)aunitary fiat plate, I e (b) a relatively long straight edge at one endof the plate for guiding material when sewing a wide straight seam, (c)a relatively short straight edgejoin'ing said relatively long straightedge at an anglethereto for guiding material when sewing a narrow seam,(d) a convexly curved edge at one side of the plate near the endopposite the relatively long straight edge for guiding material whensewing a curved seam, (e) a straight edge on the opposite side "of theplate extending in a direction normal to the relatively long straightedge, (f) a concavely curved edge of the plate joining said lastmentioned straight edge and said relatively long straight edge andterminating at an angle to provide a sharp point for guiding materialwhen sewing a seam with sharp angles, (g) and means to secure the seamguide on a sewing machine to place said edges selectively in" guidingposition. 2. A seam or stitching guide as defined in claim 1 in whichthe means for securing the'guide to the sewing machine comprises anelongated slot provided in the guide and a set screw passing through theslot and adapted to be secured to the machine.

3. A seam guide as defined in claim 1 having a uniform thickness ofapproximately inch.

4. A seam guide as defined in claim 1 which is reversible and may beemployed with either side up.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 11/1893 Wellman l12l53 XRJORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. H. HAMPTON HUNTER, AssistantExaminer.

